STRFKR

I didn't really give the band Starfucker (or STRFKR for the faint of heart) a good listen until this year.  I had heard them on KEXP from time to time, but then our friend Derek came to town and took Jacob to their concert.  Jacob called me later that evening and said I would have absolutely loved them.  Alas, I was at home with a baby - as I have said in the past, being able to just go out to shows any day of the week is the only thing I miss about pre-baby life. 

Anyway, I listed to them the next day and Jacob was right! I absolutely loved them so much, in fact, that they practically immediately ousted the Black Keys from their long-standing rank in my top three favorite bands (which, if you are curious, now consists of My Morning Jacket, Manu Chao and Starfucker in no particular order....they are all so different from eachother it is hard to actually rank them as 1st, 2nd and 3rd.)

I love this band becuase they can just perk up your mood so fast!  Practically all of their songs are full of pep and jolly goodness that you can't help but LOVE them.  I find it impossible to keep a bad mood when I hear any of their songs thus, they are good to have around.  I got the chance to see them at The Branx earlier this year.  Unfortunately there were TWO opening bands before them and it was getting so late by the time they finally got on stage that I think we missed more than half of their set, not becuase we were too tired to stick around (we are in our oldy-moldy 30s now, you know) but becuase Roman was with a sitter and we always have this sense of guilt about someone having to watch him too late. It was great while it lasted though.

In the immortal words of LeVar Burton - "but don't take my word for it" - check 'em out for yourself!  And I really hope you do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_l9ZMUWd68  (Myke Ptyson.  Makes me want to dance a little and it is one of my favorite things in life when bands use hand clapping as an instrument)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCRSpOF4JJg (Holly - my favorite of theirs next to Myke Ptyson)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krgbdZnqIpo (Boy Toy - another get up and dance-er)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UodDJEE49V0 (Girls Just Want to Have Fun - yes, that one. I love this song more than I ever did before becuase of this version)

Who Needs a Drink?

Raise your hand if you are feeling absolutely deflated these days from all the horribleness.  I know I am.  I'm emotionally/mentally exhausted from all of the bad news this week.  My heart is so shattered for the parents, families, friends, first responders, etc., who had to endure what they endured today in Connecticut. 

How do we even begin to make things better?  What has gone wrong?  If we were to correctly idenfity the underlying problems, would our country even be willing to work together and come to agreement to remedy things?

P.S. - I've said it before and I'll say it again, I believe the internet plays no small part in all of this. 

Roman: The Best First-Born EVER!

Happy 2nd birthday to my baby boy!!!!  I remember thinking when Roman hit about six to nine months that time was going by too fast and that I was going to miss him at that age so much.  While time has flown by, the older my boy gets, the more fun we have.  I honestly don't miss the earlier months like I thought I would.  He just has more and more personality all the time and it gets better and better!  To see his mind work and expand and learn is just incredible.  His memory amazes me all the time and he already is a jokester (boy does he have Jacob's personality in practically every way!).

Anyway, to celebrate his second birthday, we took him on The Polar Express train ride at Hood River this past weekend.  SUCH a fun time (but it won't be an annual event by any means...that would definitely take the excitement and wonder out of it).  One of the funniest parts of the evening was when Santa got onto our train car and everyone claps and cheers and is excited and then there is Roman, who starts crying and saying "No thank you.  No thank you." to having to visit with Santa (he came around, though, after he saw the other kids surviving the encounter)

 His actual birthday was a mellow event - dinner and presents.  But dinner was pancakes and bacon, which is probably his favorite food (that and when we were asking him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, he said pancakes - great!  Dinner and birthday "cake" all in one!)

Some photos of the occasion:

The golden ticket!

He loved getting the silver jingle bell from Santa.

 I guess you aren't so scary after all, Santa!

Of course, he got a tractor from us. 

Jacob took the day off from work to hang out with Roman on his birthday :)
The went to Powell's and Voodoo Donuts and rode the MAX and went to the nickel arcade and ate pizza!

His pancakes cake!  Four pancakes, whip cream, a candle and a tractor for
the topper.  We added raspberries and blueberries after he blew out the candle.

Yes, he did bite off part of the candle.  "bite the candle" and "yummy candle."

One of the best family photos we've gotten in awhile :) 

Summer: Are We There Yet?

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am really beginning to crave summer. The desire for natural warmth, light and Vitamin D is hitting me kind of early this year. Heck, it hasn’t even snowed and we’ve only just put up all of our Christmas decorations….the tree is lit and lovely and twirling away, and it is really fun to see Roman get excited about all of the Christmas lights every where we go (“beautifullllll,” he says. Love him!!).




BUT, today is sunshiney and I WANT SUMMER!



I get the craving every year, and I actually really like when it happens. It makes me want to super extra deep clean my house (compounded with all of the nesting that has accompanied this pregnancy, you’d thing my house would be meticulous, but not so much. I can’t keep up and it’s driving me nuts!). It makes me want to eat only fruit and vegetables and wholly nourish myself in the best ways possible. It makes me want to exercise, which isn’t exactly easy in my current state, but at least it makes me get out and walk more often). Finally, it puts me in the best mood ever when I start to crave summer, which is a great alternative to the SAD so many are prone to this time of year, myself included.



Okay, so only, like, 182.5 days until summer!  I guess some pictures will have to do for now...